Chapter 130: Punishment

Fiona’s POV

Nervously, I pace back and forth across the room, my eyes fixed on the laptop placed in the center. It's connected to the fake detector cleverly set up by Micah in his father's room. The minutes ticking by feel like an eternity, and the lack of activity on the screen intensifies my nerves.

"Micah, what if they figure it out? What if Wilson tipped off Jeremy?" I blurt out, anxiety lacing my voice.

Micah, seated on the couch with a sleeping Amelia’s head in his lap, looks up at me with calm reassurance.

"Fiona, we've planned this meticulously. Trust the process. If anything goes wrong, we’ll figure something out."

Amelia stirs in Micah's lap, and he gently hushes her back to sleep. The beautiful sight calms me a little but I am still nervous.

"If we fail, Micah, you'll lose everything. Your title, your standing. I can't bear to see that happen to you." My voice quivers with genuine concern.

Micah looks up at me, and gives me a warm smile.

"Titles and standing don't define me. What matters is us. As long as I have you and my daughter, I can be stripped of all the power and still be just fine." He plants a soft kiss on Amelia's forehead, and she sighs contently in her sleep.

A mix of emotions swirls within me, but just as I am about to reply, a voice suddenly comes from the laptop speakers. We both snap our attention to the screen.

"Hold on," Micah says, leaning forward. "This could be it."

On the screen, Jeremy and Leah make their appearance. Even in the grainy quality of the video there is no denying their identity. They both look agitated and antsy, their expressions betraying their nerves. Jeremy turns to Leah with urgency in his voice.

"Do you have the replacement?" he asks, eyes darting around nervously.

Leah nods, her features determined. "Yes, I sent some men earlier to have a look at this. They've put together something that looks similar to the detector. It'll work."

Jeremy scrutinizes her, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "Are you sure? They can’t know we have switched it out, we need to make a fool out of them so I can strip Micah out of his power. In this way, he will never find out that I killed the king and won’t have the power to convict me. That’s the only way you, me, and my mother can survive this."

Leah reassures him, her tone steady but laced with a touch of exasperation. "Husband, relax. I know what I'm doing. We won't fail. Trust me."

With a nod, they proceed to replace the detector with the fake one, working quickly and efficiently. Then, just as quickly they hurry out, clearly satisfied with their work.

Micah and I turn to face each other and a slow and wicked smile forms on his lips.

“This is it, a clear admission of guilt. Tomorrow will be fun.” He says, and I can’t help but smile back.

____________________

The next day unfolds into an even grander affair than anticipated. Jeremy, sure that victory would be his, has declared the proceedings a public event. He opens the court doors wide, inviting ministers, media representatives, and the public to witness the spectacle. The hall is ablaze with lights, everything on full display for the eagerly gathered crowd.

Once everyone is assembled, Jeremy takes center stage, addressing the audience with a self-assured demeanor.

"Today, as my brother announced, we will use the perfume detector to unveil my father's killer. Justice will be served if he succeeds. If not, he will be stripped of all power and turned into a commoner, facing punishment for disrespecting his brother and the future king. Let's be ready for the truth," he declares, settling into his seat with an eagerness that reverberates through the hall.

His mother, Alara, looks at him with pride, Rowena and Leah wear elated expressions, while Wilson appears worn, dark circles under his eyes, sitting stoically in a robe of justice. He, after all, holds the authority to make the final call and decide the outcome of this pivotal case.

I sit behind Micah, who watches the unfolding drama with an amused expression. A couple of individuals carefully carry out a box containing the perfume detector and place it in front of us. Jeremy gestures toward me, seemingly giving the go-ahead to use the detector.

Just as I reach for it, Micah rises from his seat and begins to laugh. It's a slow, dangerous sound that cuts through the air, capturing the attention of everyone in the crowd. The room falls into a hushed silence as they turn their gaze toward Micah, the atmosphere shifting from anticipation to confusion.

"What's so amusing, Micah?" Jeremy demands, his eyes narrowing.

Micah continues to chuckle, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Oh, Jeremy, you really think I am as foolish as you. I know you have replaced the detector, brother." he asserts with an air of confidence. Jeremy shifts uncomfortably in his seat, giving Micah a scathing look.

"Another excuse, Micah?" Jeremy retorts, his frustration evident. " You say I changed the detector now? Seriously? How many more accusations will you throw at me? Just admit you have nothing. This is just a gimmick, and you're wasting everyone's time."

Micah, unfazed by Jeremy's outburst, watches him calmly. Then, with a slow, knowing smile, he responds, "I don't have to say anything else. I'll just show you." Micah raises his hand, signaling a countdown. "Now, count with me. Three... Two... and, One!"

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the hall shifts as mobile phones across the room start to buzz. People hastily take them out, the sound of videos opening filling the air. Whispers and exclamations erupt as individuals view the videos on their phones. Jeremy's clear admission of killing the king resonates through the hall.

Looking as pale as a ghost, Jeremy fumbles with trembling fingers to open his own phone. Horror washes over his face as he opens the message containing the video that reveals the damning evidence: him replacing the detector with Leah.

The courtroom is in disarray, and Jeremy and Leah sputter, desperately trying to find an escape route. Turning to his mother, Jeremy pleads, "What should I do, mother? You said it would be fine, that all I had to do was kill him, and you would figure out everything else."

With that, he inadvertently implicates Alara in the sinister plot too.

Leah, watching Rowena attempt to slip away amidst the chaos of the crowd, becomes furious. She points accusingly at Rowena, her voice dripping with anger. "You think you can escape, Rowena? You were part of this plan too!"

Micah and I watch in amusement as they start to fight among each other. Accusations fly, each one trying to shift blame onto the other. Jeremy attempts to deflect responsibility onto Leah, who retaliates by exposing Rowena.

"The idea of the 'body scent perfume' was Rowena's in the first place. She brought that to me so how can she be spared?" She yells.

Rowena gasps, her kohl rimmed eyes rounding comically.

“Oh please, how would I know you two would be so stupid to be caught in this trap. I just provided the instrument, didn’t make you do anything!”

The air is thick with tension, and their once united front now crumbles as they fight for self-preservation.

“Enough!” Wilson slams his gavel down, stunning them all to silence. Rowena expectantly looks at her father, sure that he would protect her. However, Wilson’s face is set in stone.

"With the power vested in me by the kingdom, I find Prince Jeremy guilty of killing his own father, the late king, and Queen Alara as his accomplice. Both of them shall be sentenced to death."

The courtroom falls silent, the gravity of the judgment sinking in. Wilson continues, "Leah, as a clear accessory and partner in crime, shall also be sentenced to life in prison. And Rowena, for being an aid to them and providing the perfume, receives thirty werewolf years in prison."

“But Father I-” Rowena opens her mouth to argue, devastation clear on her face but Wilson slams down the gavel again. It’s clear that she cannot believe that her own father is deciding against her. She has turned red in shock and her mouth is open and closing as she grasps the betrayal.

“My judgment on this is final.” Wilson doesn’t spare her another glance. Instead, he turns his gaze on Micah.

“Prince Micah, as the rule of succession goes, you are the rightful king in line. Please let us know your orders.”

Tears come to my eyes as finally, finally, it looks like justice will be served.

Micah steps forward and looks at all of his future subjects. When he speaks, his voice is full of authority.

“The mourning period for my father is not over yet. There will be no coronation ceremony till then. The criminals will be dealt their punishments and Alastair will mourn the king’s passing. Only then, will we discuss other matters.”

With that, he turns to me, and without caring that everyone is looking he takes me into his arms.

____________________

Third POV

In the cold, damp prison cells, the once powerful royals find themselves locked away. Blame is tossed like hot potatoes among them, each pointing fingers and attempting to shift responsibility for their predicament.

Leah sneers at Rowena, "You should've done better research on that 'body scent perfume' before giving it to me. How did you not know that Fiona was its creator?"

Rowena scoffs in return, "And you and Jeremy—falling into Fiona and Micah's trap like naive pups. Pathetic."

Jeremy fires back at Leah, "Maybe if you weren't so naive in trusting your friend, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Leah rolls her eyes, "Oh, please. It's your lack of cunning that got us caught."

The complaints echo in the prison corridors, a discordant symphony of blame and frustration.

Amidst the squabbles, a child's cry from somewhere outside of the prison pierces through the air, annoying Rowena. The sound grates on her nerves until, in a moment of clarity, she remembers her own child. A sudden realization crosses her mind.

"Jeremy," she calls out to the disgruntled prince, "you still have close subordinates that you can access through the prison, right? I need to send a message."

Jeremy raises an eyebrow.

"What message do you want to deliver?"

Rowena smirks, an idea forming in her mind. "I want one of your subordinates to send a message to Jason, the Alpha King of the Warpaw Kingdom."

Jeremy looks intrigued but suspicious. "Why would you want to reach Jason?"

"Just do it. It's a matter of mutual interest."

She says, as a wicked sneer looms on her lips.